It is the third week of August and I have felt the first signs of Fall. While walking Brae to her first day of school I noticed the early morning fog has a deeper wetness to it. The clouds threaten rain even though we shouldn't have a drop until Halloween. By mid morning the fog is burned off by the sun, who seems to have realized the coming of the dark half of the year, and is burning hotter then ever to make up for the cool summer we have had. By nightfall the wind picks up, cardigans are slipped over bare shoulders and flipflops are traded for socks.
A couple nights later while I was figuring out dinner I had a sudden craving for a warm and hearty potato leek soup. Not something I would normally make in the summer. It's a soup firmly anchored in my fall and winter menu.
Then last night, while sitting in bed, a craving for apples hit me so hard I had to go downstairs and eat one immediately. My first apple in at least 6 months. It just so happened that I saw beautiful apples at the market earlier that day and was drawn to their beauty like a moth to a flame. I bought a few for my daughter's lunch, but never intended to eat one myself. Apples are my fall & winter thing, they taste the best in season. Fresh from the fridge it was cold, crispy and sweet.
If I were still living in the high desert I would be looking for the first sign of fall in the scent of the north wind. It has a wet earth, deep forest smell. One of woodsmoke, falling leaves and the faintest hint of arctic ice. It appears in September right when my Mom's apple trees are ready to harvest. We could guesstimate the start of Fall by the ripening of those apples.
I imagine it takes at least a decade to get to know a place that well and I have yet to learn the first sign of Fall here in the SF Bay Area, but I am guessing it also begins with a craving for apples.
Photos - All taken by me on my new and amazing iphone using the Instagram App. Links and descriptions for each photo are below.
1. Summer Flowers 2. Banana Almond Butter Shake. 1 c milk, 2 tbsp nut butter, 1 banana, ice. Blend until thick & creamy.
3. My friend's cat was over for a visit. He really liked the chickens. 4. Swing Socks, recently finished.
5. Deep Chocolate Brownies 6. Everyday Lunch - Avocado, turkey, tomato, lettuce, and cucumber on whole wheat bread.
7. What natural dye should I use for the Kalajoki socks? 8. The garden. Over 40 lbs harvested so far.
9. We have 2 new quail, a boy and a girl. Thinking baby quail and eggs. They need names. Any suggestions? 10. Darwin, my favorite chicken but probably a rooster. Bummer. Check out the adventure.
11. My first ever home raised organic free range chicken egg laid by Ladyhawke. 12. I am freezing loads of tomato sauce this year. Recipe from Heart of the Artichoke by David Tanis.
Geez - what a beautiful week. I liked the Bay Area before, but now I think I want to come and LIVE THERE! (ps can you recommend a chicken book? my aim for 2012 is to successfully introduce either chickens or beehives when we move back to UK, but I've got to convince my husband that we've enough space... I need to find a resource!)
Posted by: little macaroon | August 26, 2011 at 11:49 PM
Try Ashley English. She has books that cover chickens and one for beehives. You should try them. We are having a blast.
Posted by: Melissa | August 28, 2011 at 09:47 AM
Thanks for the recommendation Melissa - I think I'll go and treat myself on Amazon right now! Have a good week ;)
Posted by: little macaroon | August 28, 2011 at 06:56 PM